*Suspends youth leader over alleged official misconduct
*I am being hunted over my initiative to raise campaign funds for party, says youth Leader
Suspended National Youth Leader of Labour Party, Anslem Eragbe, has described his suspension by leadership of the party as null and void, saying the move was political.
Eragbe who was cornered by select reporters after his suspension, said the suspension was illegal and the allegations levelled against him by the party were baseless and unfounded.
The National Publicity of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, had earlier in a press briefing at the party’s national headquarters explained to journalists that the suspension of the National Youth Leader followed allegations of forgery, “issuance of certificates to groups unknown to the leadership of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman, launched a fund mobilisation website to receive funds without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman and dispatch of “several letters to some individuals without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman”.
Mr. Abayomi who said Eragbe’s actions amounted to “gross misconduct, disobedience to the constitution of the Labour Party and other acts, also accused him of anti party activities.
He said: “In essence, he seems more to be working against the aspiration of our presidential candidate. Ever since he became our senatorial candidate in Edo State, he has been hobnobbing with our major foe and that alone is an act that cannot be condoned by the leadership of this party”.
“And we followed the laid down rule where the disciplinary committee was set up during our NWC meeting with himself in attendance. He was invited, the allegation was tabled before him but he was unable to defend himself. So inadvertently, we have complied with our constitutional provision before any national officer is suspended.
In his reaction to the allegations, Eragbe who made a counter document of three pages available to journalists and copied to the IG of Police, DSS, EFCC and other relevant security agencies, described every allegations levelled against him as an act of k witch hunt.
He explained that the allegations raised by the National Publicity Secretary of the party were out of place.
On fundraising, he explained that the “proposal was explicit and showed how members and supporters of the party would contribute as low as N500 and based on the proposal it could reach up to N10bn minimum to the party
His words: “Basically it is the constitutional right of the individual and members of the party, not just party officers, left alone ranking party official like myself to raise funds for the party when necessary.
Article 9(3vii)Members Obligations: members are obliged to participate in the activities of the party e.g: Election campaigns, rallies, fund rasing functions and meetings.
“The issue of fund raising for political parties if you go to section 87 of the Electoral Act 2022. The law also makes it explicitly that individuals, the candidates and the party can engage in fund raising.
“The constitution of the labour party empowers the National Youth Leader to be in charge of the youth mobilisation. The law says, the National Youth Leader of the party shall initiate and implement strategic programme and policies to endear Labour Party to the youths of this country. Part of those programmes towards implementation is funds raising.
Eragbe further explained how he had used his personal resources to fund all his initiatives, which he said have yielded billions of naira for the party today.
He explained: “As the National Youth Leader to the party, I designed a fund raising programme for national mobilisation.
“I have done all of this personally from my pocket. The party has not given me a dime. I wrote a proposal of N12.3m sometimes in June to the chairman, as I speak with you, that proposal is still on his table and has not been attended to.
“I designed the entire package and process to solicit the support of well meaning Nigerians and I was able to get people who believe in what I have designed to support the party. That estimate was about N10b. I have approval for those N10b and I have taken the chairman of Labour Party, Barr Julius Abure, to such persons who have agreed to support our course, not once, not twice, not thrice.
“What is the issue here? I am now an outcast for the initiative that I developed?
On the issues of suspension, the National Chairman was wrong even if it was within his power to make reference to the Disciplinary Committee in the case of any official breach.
He said: “The National Chairman brought up five allegations against me and referred them to the Disciplinary Committee and I met them on the 17th and on the National Chairman approved the Committee report which I have not seen. He went further to ratified the committee’s report which I have not even set my eyes on.
“But the laws says you cannot remove a ranking officer like me or like himself. Article 17 (ii) of the Labour Party Constitution reads: “Any other National (s) officer of the party may be removed by 2/3 of majority of the votes cast by members at a convention or National Executive Council, NEC.
“All that the National Chairman ought to do was to have referred the report of the Committee to the National Executive Committee of the party or to be called and whatever the committee recommended, I will be there to defend in case there are issues I have to defend. Let NEC be called. That report I don’t even have it. It’s my right. All the issues raised are unfounded, he said.
He ended by saying that he demanded that the National Chairman of Labour Party with immediate effect withdraws his suspension against him.
